Exploring Physiological and Psychological Stress Responses in Lean and Non-Lean Individuals Using Ambulatory Monitoring and the VR Trier Social Stress Test

tress significantly impacts both mental and physical health, triggering various psychological and physiological responses. One key physiological indicator of stress is electrodermal activity (EDA), which reflects sweat gland activity. Additionally, stress and obesity are closely linked, influencing each other in complex ways. However, there is limited research examining stress responses across different body compositions in both real-world and laboratory settings. With the advancement of wearable devices and virtual reality, researchers can now continuously monitor stress and conduct controlled stress simulations. These innovations provide new opportunities to explore how stress perception and physiological responses differ based on context and body weight groups. This study utilized a mixed-methods design to assess stress responses among lean and non-lean individuals in daily life and a controlled laboratory environment. The Virtual Reality Trier Social Stress Test (VR TSST) was employed to induce stress, while participants wore Embrace Plus devices to measure EDA continuously. Additionally, ecological momentary assessments (EMA) were conducted throughout the day to capture self-reported stress levels and coping strategies.